Art of severing webs



Aug. 24, 1943. w. M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 1 v I INVENTOR. fiQ/Imm 1%. 52001?! ATTORNEY.

Aug. 24, 1943. w. M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING \IEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941- 10 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. iii/71mm 11 \Siacifer BY WM ATTORNEY.

Aug. 24, 1943. w. M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR. BY William M Sim/fer 1 HTTORNEY Aug. 24, 1943. v w. M. 'sTocKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR. WWI/am f1 Siva/12; W56",

fl TTORNE Y Aug. 24, 1943. w.'M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS lm In -Kl] w l p e S d e 1 1 F l0 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Mil/0m 1 6700521 6 ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1943. w. M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941 1O Sheets-Sheet 6 mvEN'rok Milan 1.! Sionier BY 1 W ATTORNEY Aug. 24, 1943. w. M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 8 O k QN s) 1 v 1 N 1 I 0 wb 1 kw SN 1 o .0 a hl TI umq ATTORNEY Aug, 24, 1943. w. M. STOCKER ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. 11, 1941 10 SheetSheec. 9

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I INVEIIQTOQR William 1% Sfdtltf @q ATTORNEY ART OF SEVERING WEBS Filed Sept. l1, 1941 10 Sheets-Sheet 10 INVENTOR M ATTORNEY Patented Aug.;24, 1943 ART OF SEVERING wens William M. Stocker, Hollis, N. Cameron Machine Compalziy,

Y., assignor to Brooklyn, 'N. Y.,

a corporation oi New Yor Application September 11, 1941, Serial No. 410,481

28 Claims.

This invention relates generally-to the art of severing a running flexible web or sheet into sections, and has more particularly, .though not exclusively, reference to the severance of a running web, composed at least in part of thermoplastic material, into sections and to the fusing and sealing of the severed edges of said sections against unraveling.

It is now the custom to divide or sever a web composed of organic derivatives of cellulose, such as acetate, into narrow strips, ribbons or sections and to fuse and seal the severed edges against unraveling. Ihe web can becomposed wholly of such derivatives, but frequently it consists in part of other fabric and merely contains a certain amount of yarn, threads or filaments of organic derivatives. In said art, as heretofore practiced, it has generall been the custom to locate a stationary heated severing member in the path of the running web and to thereby sever the web into sections and to fuse and seal the severed edges. It has been found that the severed edges so produced are not smooth and even but are irregular, and that there is a tendency to form blobs or. globules which not only detract from the appearance of said sections but render it difiicult to properly wind the sections into rolls.

The main object and feature of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages above noted so that the operation of severing and fusing can be carried on at high speeds. .Other features of invention will appear as the specification proceeds.

In the accompanying drawings the invention is disclosed in several concrete and preferred forms in which:

Fig. 1 is a view in side elevation of one form machine for carrying out the invention;

Fig. 2 is a top plan view, looking in the direction' of arrow 2 of Fig. 1, with parts broken away and in section;

Fig. 3 is a view, partly in elevation, partly in section and partly diagrammatic of the-heated severing member;

Fig. 4 is a vertical sectional view substantially on the plane of line 44 of Fig. 3;

- tate for instance), is indicated Fig. 5 is a longitudinal sectional view substantially on the plane of line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Fig. 6 is a diagrammatic view of a heated rotatable severing member and a smooth-faced rotatable member that simultaneously engage the running web to sever the same;

Fig. 7 is a plan view of the severed sections to indicate the zones of 'plasticity and lines of severance produced in the web;

'tion of arrow i3 of Fig. 11,

Fig. 8 is a view similar to Fig. 6 but showing the action on a double thickness of web;

Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the product ob- 'tained by the action on the double thickness of web;

Fig. 10 is a sectional detail view substantially on the plane of line ill-ill of Fig. 2;

Fig. 11 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view of a modified form of the invention showing more particularly a throw-out or separating mechanism for the heated severing member and the smooth-faced member with which it engages;

Fig. 12 is a view in side elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 10;

Fig. 13 is a top plan view, looking in the direcpartly broken away and in section;

Fig. 14 is a detail view of a plurality of heated severing members acting against a plurality of smooth-faced members;

Fig. 15 is aview similar to Fig. 11 but showing still another form of the invention including an automatic throw-out for the severing means;

Fig. 16 is a horizontal sectional view substantially on the plane of line l6-|6 of Fig. 15;

Fig. 17 is a vertical sectional view of a machine embodying the invention but showing still another form thereof in that a single smooth-faced member is employed in connection with a plurality of heated severing members and the means that heat said severing members are different from those previously disclosed;

Fig. 18 is a vertical sectional view showing a portion of the machine of Fig. 17 with the parts occupying a different position; and

Fig. 19 is a top plan view, looking in the direction of arrow IQ of Fig. 17, with parts broken away and in section.

Attention is directed first to the disclosure of Figs. 1 to 7 and 10. A running web, consisting at least in part of thermoplastic material (aceat W, and severing means are indicated at l and 2. Member I is a rotatable, smooth-faced, circular member, here in the form of a roller, and member 2 is a heated and rotatable circular severing member or knifeedged cutting disc having a severing or knife edge 3 beveled in opposite directions (Fig. 6). Member 2 has knife-edge engagement only with web W and member I, and said members have peripheral speeds in fixed relation to the rate of advancement of the web, 1. e. said members rotate at substantially the same surface speed as the speed of the running web, and the rotating movement of both of said members is in the same direction as the advancing movement of the running web. In the present instance, member 2 is positively rotated by gearing and constitutes a driver for member I which latter is rotated by frictional engagement with the former. By subjecting the web to the action of members I and 2, there is plasticized by heating, a longitudinal zone, indicated diagrammatically in Fig. 7 by dotted lines 4, that is wider than the line of severance to be made and, simultaneously therewith, there is produced, by the rolling action of members I and 2, said line of severance in said zone, intermediate its sides, to thereby convert the web into sections I5 and So by severing the nonthermoplastic threads (if any) and to fuse and seal the thermoplastic yarns, threads or filaments of the severed edges. By this method the web is not only converted into sections but the severed edges of said sections are smooth and even and are fused at a progressively diminishing ratio transversely of the line of severance. The reasons for this are that (a) beveled severing edge 3 of member 2 transmits its heat sidewise a considerable distance and renders the thermoplastic material of said zone plastic; because (b) the evered edges of sections 6 and 6a are not distorted out of the plane of said sections, and,-further: because (0) the surface speed of members I and 2 is substantially equal to the speed of the running web and therefore the fused material is not displaced or disturbed. This is entirely difierent from a method in which the running web encounters a stationary severing member for, in that case, the severed edges of the sections are brought out of the plane of said sections and a displaced portion of the plastic zone remote from the line of severance could readily become more highly plastic than, or as highly plastic as, the portion immediately adjacent-the line of severance. In the instant invention, on the other hand, the plasticity of the material decreases toward the sides of the zone because of beveled severing edge 3, and said zone may even extend sidewise beyond the point where member 2 contacts the web on account of the close proximity to the web of part of those portions of the beveled surfaces of member 2 that are in spaced relation to said web. The angle of bevel of severing edge 3 may vary, but excellent results have been obtained with 45 bevels, that is: a 90 angle between the two bevels, and by sli htly dulling. as by stoning, said severing edge.

The degree of heat to be applied to member 2 will depend in part upon the character of the material to be severed and in part upon the speed at which the web material is moved; conversely, the speed at which the material must be moved will depend upon the degree of heat applied to member 2. Generally. the heat should be above the scorching point of the material, and the speed of the web should be great enough to prevent damage to the material By employing the instant method and the machines herein disclosed, it has been poss ble to obtain operating speeds of the web up to 120 feet per minute with a fusing temperature of 800 F.

The process is susceptible of use not only to sever a thermoplastic web and to seal the severed edges of the sections so produced, but it can also be employed to produce a tubular art cle such as is shown in Fig. 9. As indicated in Fig. 8, two superimposed webs WI and W2, composed at least in part of thermoplastic material, can be passed between members I and 2 to thereby simultaneously sever the two webs, fuse the severed edges'of the sections and fuse the superimposed sections together at their edges W3 into a tubula article W4.

It is necessary to bring member 2 up to the desired heat before commencing the severing operation and this, in connection with the desirabillty of threading the web between members I and 2 even when member 2 is hot, and of bringing the web quickly away from member 2 when the machine stops, creates a problem that is, in the present instance, solved as follows (see particularly Fig. 10): Member 2 has, here, a fixed axis of rotation, but member I is rotatably mounted in the bifurcated end of an arm or lever 8 that is pivotally supported on rod or rail 9 which latter can be raised or lowered by a suitable control mechanism here represented by handle I0 and eccentric II. I2 indicates a spring carried by lever 8 and having a tension adjusting screw I3 in abutting engagement with bracket I4 of the frame-work. Lever 8 is located between the side cheeks of a spacer I5 adjustable lengthwise of rail 9 and held in its adjusted position by means of a set-screw I6. I1 and I8 indicate two rotatable guide rollers and it will be observed that these rollers guide the web in a path between members I and 2 but somewhat below member 2 when member I is in what may be called a normal position, i. e. out of engagement with the web and member 2. When member I is raised into operating position, it engages the web and bows it slightly to bring it into contact with member 2 under spring pressure of spring I2 and, when member I is lowered, the spring pressure is relaxed and the advancing web will assume its straight path between guide rollers I1 and I8 to bring said web far enough away from member 2 not to be adversely afiected by the heat thereof.

Any desired number of members I and 2 may be used. Rail 9 extends across the machine and is slidable in vertical guides I9 of the side frames and carries a plurality of members I that constitute a set equal in number to the number of members 2. Each member I is individually adjustable by means of its arm 8 and spacer I5 as previously described and it will be understood that the raising and lowering of rail 9 moves the entire set of members I but that, nevertheless each member I will be under its individual spring pressure as determined by adjusting screw I3 associated with each lever 8.

The set of members 2 are here supported on a common rotatable carrier 20 which is essentially a tubular member having a heating element 2I, here in the form of resistance wires, the leads 22 of which are connected to collector rings 23 with which latter spring terminals 24 of circuit 25 engage. Members 2 are arranged in properly spaced relation on the exterior of carrier 20 so as to correspond to the position of members I, and the spacing of members 2 may be changed by interposing between them spacing rings 26 of dififerent widths. Lock nuts 21 in threaded engagement with carrier 20 hold members 2 and spacing rings 26 in position.

Carrier 20 and therefore members 2) is positively driven by any suitable means and consti tutes here the main drive of the machine. Members I are driven by frictional engagement with members 2 when brought into contact therewith. The means for advancing the web is here shaft 28 of the winding mechanism which advances the web at substantially the same speed as the ass-mes surface speed of members and 2, and the web is drawn from web roll 29 over guide roller 88 and thus into the machine. The shaft 3| of web roll 29 may carry a pulley 32 over which passes a brake band 33 to retard unwinding of the web. Power can be derived from any suitable source and can be delivered to the machine through a variable speed mechanism to suit different operating conditions. In the present instance it is preferred to have a variable-speed motor M that by means of a belt 34 drives a pulley 35 concentric, but loose, with respect to carrier 20. A clutch 35 fast with respect to carrier 28 can be slid into and out of engagement with a corresponding clutch surface on pulley 35 to impart rotation to carrier 20 in a well understood manner such as by means of bifurcated yoke 81 pivotally supported at 38 on the framework and having pins engaging in a circumferential groove of clutch 36. Rotating with carrier 20 is a gear 39 that meshes with a gear 40 loose and slidable on shaft 4i. Shaft 4| also carries another gear 42 and between gears 40 and 42 are friction surfaces 43, the frictional engagement of\ which can be adjusted by means of spring 44 and nut 45, the assembly constituting a slip friction drive. Shaft 28 is mounted on one of two arms 45 (one arm on each side of the machine) which arms are adjustable on shaft 4|. Shaft 28 carries a pinion t'i that receives its motion from intermediate pinion 48, also mounted on arm 45, and said intermediate pinion 48 meshes with gear 42. Arm 45 is held in its adjusted position on shaft 4| by means of a ratchet 49, stationary on the framework, and a latch 58 pivoted on arm 45. Arms 45 are counterweighted as at In case it is desired to wind alternate severed strips on separate shafts, a second winding shaft 52 can be provided on another pair of arms 53 carried by a shaft 54, and a train of gear and slip friction clutch similar in all respects with that previously described in connection with shaft 28 can be driven from gear 39 to impart movement to shaft 54. In such case alternate strips pass directly from roller |8 to winding shaft 28, and the other alternate strips pass from roller l8 over roller 55 to winding shaft 52. The coils of wound material on shaft 28 are indicated at 55, and those on shaft 52 at 51.

In operating the machine, members 2 are brought up to the requisite heat by closing circuit 25 after control device or throw-out mechanism |8|| has brought members I out of engagement with members 2. The web can be threaded through the machine either before heating the members 2, while they are being heated, or after they are heated. The web is drawn over roller 38, under rollers l1 and I8, between members and 2, and are thence led to one or both winding shafts 28 and 52 as may be desired. When members 2 have been sufficiently heated, clutch 35 is thrown in and members I are brought into engagement with the web to bring it against members 2 and to bring smooth-faced members or pressure rollers I under sufllcient tension to rotate said members at the same speed as members 2 by engagement with members 2. Slip friction drive 43 has previously been adjusted to advance the web at substantially the same speed as the surface speed of members and 2 and, as the diameter of of rewound material increases, slip friction drive 43 can be adjusted by nut 45 to substantially maintain the speed of the web equal to the surface speed of members and 2.

The-necessity for keeping the web out of contact with the heated severing member when the machine is not running has already been dwelt upon, and in the form of the invention shown in Fig. 10 it is accomplished by the moving away of the web from the heated severing member. It has been found, however, that, when a high degree of heat is employed, the web has to be moved a considerable distance away from the heated member in order not to have the web adversely affected by the heat, and this creates another problem. The difliculty resides in the fact that the web in moving away from or toward the heated member at times tends to become displaced transversely so that the heated member will not follow the same trace in the web as previously.

To overcome this difficulty, the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to vised. As there shown, carrier 20a that supports heated members 2a is mounted in slidable boxes 50 that slide vertically in guides 5| in the framework at opposite sides of the machine. Each of these boxes has a pair of upstanding lugs or ears 52 in spaced relation with a pin 53 extending therebetween. Extending across the machine is a rockshaft 54, and this rockshaft carries, at opposite ends, levers 55, each of which has a projection 55 that extends between the pair of ears 62 and is provided with a slot 51 through which pin 53 extends. Levers 65 are connected by an operating handle 58. Rail 911, for raising and lowering pressure rollers la, rests on two carrying arms 59 pivoted at 18 and having their outer ends pivotally connected to the lower ends of rods Said rods H are connected at their upper ends to arms 12 of rockshafts 64. It will now be understood that by manipulating handle 68 from the full line position to the dot-and-dash line position of Fig. 11, boxes 50, and therefore carrier 20a and members 2a, will be moved in an upward direction, and rail 9a, and therefore members It: will be moved in a downward direction. This will leave web Wlll practically undisturbed and, in connection with this, attention is called to the fact that guide rollers Na and |8a have their lower surfaces substantially in line with the lower surfaces of members 2a when boxes 50 are in their lowermost position. Upon a reverse movement of handle 58 of the throw-out mechanism, members la and 2a are again brought together without unduly disturbing the web. By the abovedescribed means the heated members 2a can be brought a considerable distance away from the web and the parts can be so articulated that members 2a move a much greater distance in the same period of time than members la.

If desired, in order to avoid frequent adjustment of the slip friction drive of winding shaft 28a, two feed rollers I5 and 11 can be interposed between the severing and fusing mechanism and the winding shaft. The upper feed roller I5 is mounted in sliding boxes 18 sliding in guides 19 of the framework and springs normally keep feed rollers 15 and 11 in contact.

Power is, here, applied to shaft 8| by any suitable means either throug a variable-speed transmission mechanism or from a variable speed motor. Shaft 8| carries a pinion 82 that meshes with gear 83 on carrier 20a and it will be noted that gear 83 is directly above pinion 82 so that. when said carrier is raised, gear 83 is brought out of mesh with pinion 82. Pinion 82 also drives shaft 84 of feed roller 11 through a train of 14 has been degears indicated by 85 and 80, and shaft 84 carries a pinion 81 that meshes with pinion 88 on shaft 89' of feed roller I6. Thus members Ia and 2a are moved substantially at the same surface speed as the speed of the web. Pinion 82 drives shaft 90 through a train of gears indicated at 9|, 92 and 93, and shaft 90 carries a sprocket 94 which through sprocket chain 95 drives a sprocket 90 on shaft 91. Shaft 91 carries a gear 98 which through intermediate gear 99 drives gear I that through an adjustable slipfriction drive IOI drives winding shaft 2811.

Web WIO is unwound from unwinding roll 29a and passes under guide rollers 30a, I'Ia and I8a, being advanced by feeding rollers 16 and I1 and thence passes to winding shaft 28a. In its passage between members Ia and 2a the web is severed, fused and sealed in the manner previously described in connection with Figs. 1 to '7 inclusive and 10.

A modification of the form of the invention shown in Figs. 11 to 14 is disclosed in Figs. 15 and 16. In this modification the throw-out mechanism is governed automatically by the speed of the web in such a way that if the machine slows down or stops, members Ia and 2a are automatically separated so as to prevent injury to the web by reason of its contact with heated members 2a. As there shown, levers 65 (and therefore members Ia and 2a) are held in operating position by one or more springs I05. I06 indicates one or more solenoids which, when energized, attract armature I01 connected to levers 65 thereby overcoming the tension of springs I05 and separating members Ia and 2a as shown in Fig. 15.

The circuit for energizing solenoid I06 is indicated diagrammatically at I08 and leads to two contact members I09 insulated from each other. I I0 indicates a bridging member carried by sp ed governor III which latter rotates with rotatable guide roller 30a. Web WIO passes under roller 30a and, when the machine is running at the minimum required speed, the rotation of roller 30a and therefore of the speed governor, is sufficient to keep bridging member I I0 outof contact with contacts I09. But when roller 30a stops or slows down below the required speed, the spring of the governor will bring bridging member IIO against contacts I09 in a well understood manner, circuit I08 is completed through solenoid I05 and members Ia and 2a are automatically separated. Governor III can be rendered ineffective byfiexing its arms and holding them in flexed position by means of latch II2 engaging pin I I3, should it be desired to do so.

In the forms of the invention hereinbefore described, a set of smooth-faced pressure rollers are employed, and these pressure'rollers are movable toward and away from the heated severing members. Turning now to the form of the invention members 2b downwardly into knife-edge engagement with member Ib under individually adjusted spring pressure. I20 indicates a heater to project a flame directly on members 2?). This heater extends across the machine and is provided with a hood I2I to confine the flame. The heater and hood are mounted'on two arms or levers I22 (one at each side of the machine) which are pivoted on a transverse rod I23 carried by the framework. Suitable means are provided to lift and lower bar H8 and to actuate arms I22. In the present instance, a pedal I24 is mounted on rockshaft I25 and carried by this rockshaft are two arms I26, one on each side of the machine. I21 indicates a connecting rod, of which there are two, pivotally connected to arms I26 and bar II8. I28 indicates a connecting rod, of which there are two, pivotally connecting arms I26 and I22. I29 is a transverse bar extending across the machine above holders I I4 and is carried by connecting rods I28. A spring I30 tends to urge the pedal in an upward direction, and

, I3I indicates a latch to hold the pedal in its lowcred position after it has been depressed. It will now be understood that, when pedal I24 is depressed, members 2b are brought into contact with member Ib, and that heater I20 is lowered to be in a position adjacent members 21). Conversely when pedal I24 is released and spring I30 moves it in an upward direction, heater I20 and hood I2I as well as members 2b will be moved in an upward direction, transverse bar I29 as it moves downward assisting by its weight to lift members 2b. It is necessary that members 271 should be brought up to the required heat before the severing and fusing operation begins, and to prevent excessive heat from being applied to part of members 2b, an auxiliary driver is provided in the form of a roller I32 extending across the machine and with which members 2b engage and by which they are rotated when in their up per position out of contact with member Ib. Auxiliary driver I32 is driven by a motor, through belt I33 and pulley I34, independently of the machine so that, when the machine is at rest, members 2b canbe rotated and brought up to heat. If desired, a connection to the main clutch (not shown) of the machine can be actuated by I the movement of pedal I 24. Such a connection disclosed in Figs. 17 to 19 inclusive, Ib indicates a smooth-faced rotatable cylinder extending across the machine and having a fixed center of rotation, and 2b denotes a plurality of rotatable and heated circular severing members having a severing edge and of a character similar to the severing members previously described. Each severing member 2b is rotatably mounted in the bifurcated end of a pivotally supported arm or holder II4 slidably adjustable on rod H5. Each holder is individually spring-pressed by means of spring IIG having an adjusting screw II! that bears on a transverse lifting bar I I8 slidably mounted in vertical guides II9. Movement of bar H8 in anupward direction swings all the with pinion I43 on winding shaft 28b.

is shown at I35 and it will be understoodthat when pedal I24 is depressed the main clutch is thrown in, and when said pedal is elevated said vmain clutch is thrown out to stop all of the machine except the auxiliary driver.

Power is applied to shaft I36 carrying pinion I31 meshing with gear I38 mounted to rotate with member ID whereby said member is rotated, and rotates at the same surface speed, by frictional engagement, members 2b, when the latter are'in engagement with member ID. Gear I38 meshes with gear I39 on shaft I40 and, carried by said shaft, is another gear I4I. Interposed between gears I39 and MI is an adjustable slip friction drive I42. Gear I4I meshes I44 indicate two rotatable friction feed rollers, one on each side of member lb, carried by arms I41 that are pivotally supported at I45 and urged by springs I46 toward said member lb. I4'Ib indicate stops limiting the movement of said rollers away from member Ib. Web WI I, coming from supply roll 29b, passes beneath guide rollers I48 and I 49, thence under friction roller I44, around the upper surface of member Ib, thence under the other friction roller I44 and thereafter to winding shaft 28b. It will be understood that friction drive I42 will slip be adjusted as the diameter of the rewound material increases but, aside from that, the webis in such close frictional contact with member lb, owing to rollers I, that it will be moved substantially at the same speed as the surface speed of said member lb. It will be observed that, by this construction, when the throw-out device, represented by pedal I24 and connections, is actuated-and members 2b and the heater are elevated into the position shown in Fig. 18, the web will remain in contact with member lb and thus will not be disturbed at all. Hence, when members 2b are again lowered into contact with member lb, they will readily follow the same trace as before. To assure that the web will not be damaged by the heat, member lb can be a cylinder having a water cooling system indicated by connection I50 so that the web is cooled before, during and after severance. A flexible gas conduit for heater I20 is indicated at l5l.

Although the various machines herein disclosed have been described primarily in connection with the process of the instant invention, it is obvious that constructional features of these machines are susceptible of use in other relations and in connection with other processes.

I claim:

1. In a device for severing sheet or web material composed at least in part of thermoplastics, a plurality of rotatable circular cutting elements normally out of cutting relation with said material, means for heating said cutting elements, means for advancing the material to be severed relative to the axis of rotation of said cutting elements, means for rotating said cutting elements with the peripheral speeds thereof in fixed relation to the rate of advancement of said material, a set of individual resilient members, a control means movable resilient members for moving said material into engagement with said heated cutting elements to besevered thereat, and means operative by said material advancing means on the movement of said control means from an operating to a normal position to withdraw said material from engagement with said cutting elements.

2. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric material containing yarns, threads or filaments of organic derivatives of cellulose, a set of heated circular knife-edged cutting discs, means for rotating said cutting discs, a set of individually operable pressure rollers one for each of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for operating said pressure rollers to hold said material in engagement with said cutting discs, means for advancing said material relative to said pressure rollers and said cutting discs, and

means including said cutting discs and pressure rollers for severing said material as the same is moved relative to said cutting discs and pressure rollers by said advancing means.

3. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from a web or sheet of fabric mateasamas rial in engagement with said cutting discs, means for advancing said material relative to said pressure rollers and said cutting discs, means including said cutting discs and pressure rollers for severing said material as the same is moved relative to said cutting discs and pressure rollers by said advancing means, and means for advancing said material at such a rate relative to the peripheral speed of said cutting discs that said cutting discs and pressure rollers have substantially no effect on the advancement of said material.

4. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivativesof cellu lose, a plurality of heated circular knife-edged cutting elements, means for moving said material in a direction substantially perpendicular to the rotative axis of said cutting elements, resilient means, a set of pressure rollers one i-ndig vidual to each of said cutting discs operated by said resilient means for pressing said material into knife-edge engagement with said cutting discs. and means including said heated cutting discs and said pressure rollers for severing said material as the same is moved relative thereto by said material moving means.

5. In a device for forming a plurality of strips.

or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated circular knife-edged cutting elements, means for moving said material in a direction substantially perpendicular to th rotative axis of said cutting elements, a set of pressure rollers one individual to each of said cutting discs for pressing said material into knifeedge engagement with said cutting discs, means from a normal to an operated position and including said individual rial containing yarns, threads or filaments of" organic derivatives of cellulose, a set of heated circular knife-edged cutting discs, means for rotating said cutting discs, a set of individually operable pressure rollers one for each of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for operating said pressure rollers to hold said matevancement thereof by independent of said material for driving said cutting discs and pressure rollers, means including said heated cutting discs and said pressure rollers for severing said material by a rolling severing action as the-same is moved relative thereto by said materialmoving means and means for advancing said material at such a rate relative to the direction an peripheral speed of said into only knife edge engagement with said severing elements to be severed thereby.

7. In o; device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivativesor cellulose, a plurality of heated rotatable circular kniieedged severing discs, means for moving said material relative to said severing discs, individual resiliently operable means associated with each of said severing discs and means including said last mentioned means for holding said material in engagement with only the knife edges of said severing discs to be severed thereby during adsaid material moving means.

8. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated knife-edged cutting discs, said discs being maintained at a temperature above the scorching temperature of said thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material, resiliently operated means for bringing said material into only knife edge engagement with said cutting discs and advancing the same therepast at such a rate as to prevent scorching of said material by said heated cutting discs, and means including said heated cutting discs upon engagement with said material for severing the same by cutting action of the yarns, threads or filaments in said material of other than thermoplastics or cellulose if present and by melting and cutting action of said yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material.

9. In a device for forming a plurality of strips or ribbons from web or sheet material containing at least in part yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose, a plurality of heated knife-edged cutting discs, said discs being maintained at a temperature above the scorching temperature of said thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material, an independently pivotable member associated with each of said cutting discs, means including said members for bringing said material into only knife edge engagement with said cutting discs and advancing the same therepast at such a rate as to prevent scorching of said material by said heated cutting discs, and means including said'heated cutting discs upon engagement with said material for severing the same by cutting action of the yarns, threads or filaments in said material of other than thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose if present and by melting and cutting action of said yarns, threads or filaments of thermoplastics or organic derivatives of cellulose in said material.

10. In a device for severing a web of substantial width composed at least in part of thermoplastic material into a plurality of ribbons or strips of narrow width, a set of circular rotatable knife-edged cutting discs adjustably arranged along a common axis, means for heating said cutting discs, individual pressure rollers one associated with each of said cutting discs carried on individual arms pivotally and adjustably mounted on a common axis substantially parallel to the axes of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for biasing said arms to hold said pressure rollers in engagement with associated cutting discs, means for advancing the web to be severed relative to said pressure rollers and cutting discs and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes thereof, means comprising said pressure rollers for holding the web in knife edge engagement with said cutting discs whereby said discs perform a cutting action on said web and liquefy the thermoplastic material adjacent the individual edges of the severed strips, and means for rotating said discs at such a speed relative to the rate of advancement of said web that the engagement of said web with said discs is a rolling engagement.

11. In a device for severing a web of substantial width composed at least in part of thermoplastic material into a plurality of ribbons or strips of narrow width, a set of circular rotatable knife-edged cutting discs adjustably arranged organic derivatives of along a common axis, means for heating said cutting discs, individual pressure rollers one associated with each of said cutting discs carried on individual arms pivotally and adjustably mounted on a common axis substantially parallel to the axes of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for biasing said arms to hold said pressure rollers in engagement with associated cutting discs, means for advancing the web to be severed relative to said pressure rollers and cutting discs and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes thereof, means comprising said pressure rollers for holding the web in knife edge engagement with said cutting discs whereby said discs perform a cutting action on said web and liquefy the thermoplastic material adjacent the individual edges of the severed strips, means for rotating said discs at such a speed relative to the rate of advancement of said web that the engagement of said web with said discs is a rolling engagement, and means including the adjustment of said pressure rollers and cutting discs along their respective axes for severing strips of various widths from said web.

12. In a device for severing a web of substantial width composed at least in part of thermoplastic material into a plurality of ribbons or strips .of narrow width, a set of circular rotatable knife-edged cutting discs adjustably arranged along a common axis, means for heating said cutting discs, individual pressure rollers one associated with each of said cutting discs carried on individual arms pivotally and adjustably mounted on a common axis substantially parallel to the axes of said cutting discs, individual resilient means for biasing said arms to hold said pressure rollers in engagement with associated cutting discs, means for advancing the web to be severed relative to said pressure rollers and cutting discs and in a direction substantially perpendicular to the axes thereof, means comprising said pressure rollers ior holding the web in knife edge engagement with said cutting discs whereby said discs perform a cutting action on said web and liquefy the thermoplastic material adjacent the individual edges of the severed strips, means for rotating said discs at such a speed relative to the rate of advancement-of said web that the engagement of said web with said discs is a rolling engagement, and means for pivoting the arms carrying said pressure rollers to move the same and said web out of severing engagement with said cutting discs irrespective of the operation of said web advancing means.

13. The method of smoothly severing a run ning flexible web, composed at least in part of thermoplastic material, into longitudinal sections and sealing the severed edges thereof without distorting said edges out of the plane of said sections, which consists in: subjecting said web to the simultaneous action of two members, one, a rotatable, smooth-faced circular member and, another, a heated and rotatable, circular severing member, both of said members having a rotating movement in the same direction as the advancing movement of the running web and both members having substantially the same surface speed as the speed of the running web.

14. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced, circular member, friction rollers at opposite sides of said member to train a web in frictional contact around a portion of the surface of said member to thereby advance said web at a speed substantially equal to the surface speed of said member and a rotatable asaaees circular severing member, located intermediate said friction rollers, to engage and sever said web as it passes around said first-mentioned member and driven from the latter by frictional knife-edge contact therewith at substantially the same surface speed as that of said first-mentioned member.

15. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced, circular member, means to train a web in frictional contact around a portion of the surface of said member to thereby advance said web at a speed substantially equal to the surface speed of said member, a rotatable circular severing member to engage and sever said web as it passes around said first-mentioned member and driven from the latter by frictional knife-edge contact therewith at substantially the same surface speed as that of said first-mentioned member, means to circulate a cooling medium through the interior of said first-mentioned member, means to heat the exterior of the severing member, and means to move the severing member out of contact with said first-mentioned member.

16. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced, circular member, means to train a web in frictional contact around a portion of the surface of said member to thereby advance said web at a speed substantially equal to the surface speed of said member, a rotatable circular severing member to engage and sever said web as it passes around said first-mentioned member and driven from the latter by frictional knife-edge contact therewith at substantially the same surface speed as that of said first-mentioned member, means to circulate a cooling medium through the interior of said first-mentioned member, means to heat the exterior of the severing member, means to move the severing member out of contact with said first mentioned member, and means to rotate said severing member when out of contact with said first-mentioned member.

17. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced, circular member over the surface of which a web to be severed passes, a rotatable circular severing member to engage and sever said web and driven from the latter by frictional knife-edge contact therewith, means to move said severing member out of contact with said first-mentioned member, a heater to heat the exterior of said severing member both when in or out of contact with said first-mentioned member, and an auxiliary driver to rotate the severing member independently of said firstmentioned member.

18. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced circular member over the surface of which a web to be severed passes, a rotatable circular severing member to occupy either of two positions, one in contact with and another out of contact with said first-mentioned member, a heater to heat said severing member before the latter engages said first-mentioned member and to continue to heat said severing member after the latter engages said first-mentioned member, and means to move said severing member into engagement with said firstmentioned member.

19. In a web severing machine in which two rotatable members engage each other to sever a web passing therebetween and in which one of said members drives the other, means to cause said members to engage or disengage one another, and heater means to heat one of said members whether or not they are in or out of engagement.

20. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced circular member over the upper surface of which a web to be severed passes, a rotatable circular severing member pivotally supported above said first-mentioned member, a heater pivotally supported above the severing member, and control means and connections to move said severing member and said heater on their pivotal supports toward and away from said first-mentioned member.

21. In a web severing machine, a rotatably driven smooth-faced circular member over the upper surface of which a web to be severed passes, a rotatable circular severing member pivotally supported above said first-mentioned member, a heater pivotally supported above the severing member, control means and connections to move said severing member and said heater on their pivotal supports toward and away from said firstmentioned member, and a clutch operating element for said first-mentioned member associated with the control means and connections aforesaid and moving therewith.

22. In a web severing machine: a rotatably driven smooth-faced member, a rotatable web severing member driven by knife-edge contact with said smooth-faced member, a heater for heating the surface of said web severing member, means to move said web severing member out of contact with the smooth-faced member while retaining a heating relation between the heater and said web severing member, and an auxiliary driver to engage and rotatethe web severing member when the latter is out of contact with the driven smooth-faced member.

23. In a web severing machine in which a heated rotatable Web severing member engages with a. smooth-faced rotatable member, heater means to project a flame against the surface of said web severing member, and connections to move said web severing member and said heater means in unison away from the smooth-faced member.

24. In a severing machine for a running flexible web, a rotatable severing device between the members of which the web passes, comprising: a rotatable smooth-faced circular member and a rotatable heated severing member having knifeedge contact with said first-mentioned member, both of said members having substantially the same surface speed as the speed of the running web.

25. In a web severing machine for a running flexible web in which two members engage to lengthwise sever the running web, throw-out means to bring said members out of engagement, a roll driven by the running web, and a speedcontrolled device driven by said roll to render the throw-out means effective to bring said members out of engagement when the speed of the roll falls below a certain point.

26. In a web-severing machine in which a running web is severed lengthwise by the cooperation of two rotatable members, one a smooth-faced circular member and the other a circular severing member having knife-edge engagement with said first-mentioned member, guiding means to direct the web between the two members, and throw-out mechanism to move both of said members toward or away from each other to engage or disengage the web substantially simultaneously without substantially disturbing the web from its path to thereby enable the severing member when engaging the web after having been separated therefrom to follow substantially the same trace that it previously followed.

27. In a machine for severing a running web, composed at least in part of thermoplastic material, into sections and sealing the severed edges of said sections, means to advance the web, severing means, composed of two rotatable members between which the web passes, to plasticise, by heating, a longitudinal zone in said running web, said zone being wider than the line of severance to be made, and to simultaneously produce a line of severance in said zone intermediate its side without distorting the edges thus severed out of the plane of said sections, means to heat one of said members, and means to rotate said members in the same direction as the advancing movement of the web and at substantially the same surface speed as that of the running web.

28. In a machine for severing a running web, composed at least in part of thermoplastic material, into longitudinal sections and sealing the severed edges of said sections, means to advance the web, severing means composed of a rotatable, smooth-faced circular member and a heated and rotatable, circular severing member between which members the web passes, means to heat said circular severing member, and means to rotate said members in the same direction as the advancing movement of the web and at substantially the same surface speed as that of the running web.

WILLIAM M. STOCKER. 

